July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union soldier’s Autograph Letter Signed by Sgt. Perry C. Goodrich, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 4pp. quarto, Zollicoffer House, Nashville, Tennessee, October 28, 1863, with cover, it reads in part: “...We are in all sorts of places and have all sorts of camps. This ‘camp’ is an immense building six stories high in the center of this city. It was built for a hotel but never completed, not being finished off inside. It is now used as barracks in which are kept convalescents from the hospitals, deserters, paroled prisoners and stragglers. 170 of our regiment were sent here to get horses for our division which is at Decherd. We arrived yesterday and they shut us up in this prison and treat us as they do the prisoners with the exception that we can all have passes to got out around the city and I think everyone has availed himself of this privilege to day...Between two and three thousand soldiers are now in this building and yet it is not one quarter filled. The arrangments for feeding so many it seems to me are very bad. They all eat in one room, about 200 being able to stand around the tables at a time. They are eating all times of the day and generally 30 or 400 are crowded around the dining room door all eager to get in as if they expected something good. If a man is well and strong he can stand the pressure of the crowd, if he is small and weak he had better go without his supper than venture in. Two days ago one poor fellow was actually pressed to death in this rush for something to eat...With regard to great military movements you are doubtless as well informed as I am, therfore it would be needless for me to write concerning them I will only say that I believe a great crisis is rapidly approaching and something very decisive is about to take place. I tremble for the result. We have got an immense army in the heart of our enemy’s country with but a single line of 300 or 400 miles in length on which to transport supplies. This railroad has to be crowded to its utmost and still our army at the front is on short rations. The rebels will make as they have been making desperate attempts to break this line of communication; with, it seems to me, some possibility at least of success. The line once broken and our great army is destroyed...” About very good condition.
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